The Philippine National Police said the crime volume in Negros Oriental went up by 3.83 percent in the first quarter of 2015, compared to the same period last year, a government press release said.
Senior Supt. Mariano Natuel Jr., director of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, said crimes recorded from January to March 2015 totaled 5,495, with 2,491 taken from police blotters, 2,430 from barangay blotters, and 574 from other law enforcement agencies, the press release also said.
During the Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting recently, he added that on the PNP crime records, 1,298 are index crimes and 1,193 non-index.
For index crimes, or those committed against persons or property, police recorded 49 murder cases, physical injury, 612; theft, 388; robbery, 91; homicide, 38; rape, 52; carnapping, 58; and 10 cases for cattle rustling, the press release also said.
For non-index crimes or offenses punishable under the Revised Penal Code and special laws, such as Republic Act 9165 or the anti-drugs law, and RA 9287, or illegal gambling, the PNP registered 1,193 incidents.
Among the six cities, Dumaguete, registered the highest share in the total crime volume, from 965 in 2014, to 1,110 this year, the press release said.
Sibulan town, that is adjacent to Dumaguete, also has a high total crime volume recorded, or from 147 in 2014 to 158 in the first three months of 2015.
Natuel said the crime clearance efficiency increased 54.20 percent from 50.90 percent in the same period, and index crimes efficiency from 35.29 percent to 39.65 percent.
NOPPO also conducted 83 anti-drugs operations, resulting in 99 arrests, the confiscation of drugs worth around P3 million, and the filing of 117 cases in courts, Natuel said.
Other accomplishments in the flagship programs include loose firearms with 55 operations, 144 wanted persons arrested, and 23 operations held against illegal gambling, with 32 persons nabbed, the press release added.
